Gender and limb effects on adult normative data for the Biodex Balance System

Abstract

Posturography normative data in healthy populations is crucial for several reasons including monitoring the independence issues related to activities of daily living (ADLs), fall and incapacity avoidance, and residual injury impairment. The Biodex Balance System requires updated normative data regarding healthy persons because of recent revisions to the Biodex Balance System. Further, this study aimed to determine and compare gender and limb performance in 161 adults aged 18-55 years (n = 80 males; n = 81 females). Assessments involved both static and dynamic stability tests such as double-leg and single-leg balance tests at platform stability which served as outcome measurements. Females performed significantly (p≤.05) better on double-leg static balance (p=.031), double-leg dynamic balance (p=.002), and single-leg dynamic balance on both the left (p=.003) and right legs (p=.013) when compared to males. The normative values and findings of this study not only enable the evaluation of individual performance regarding the balance of adults but also suggest the need to use gender-stratified normative data when using the Biodex Balance System to interpret double- and single-leg, static and dynamic balance test performance.